CHAPTER 126
MUNICIPAL PLANNING COMMISSIONS

      Sec. 8-23. Preparation, amendment or adoption of plan of conservation and development. (a)(1) At least once every ten years, the commission shall prepare or amend and shall adopt a plan of conservation and development for the municipality. Following adoption, the commission shall regularly review and maintain such plan. The commission may adopt such geographical, functional or other amendments to the plan or parts of the plan, in accordance with the provisions of this section, as it deems necessary. The commission may, at any time, prepare, amend and adopt plans for the redevelopment and improvement of districts or neighborhoods which, in its judgment, contain special problems or opportunities or show a trend toward lower land values.

      (2) If a plan is not amended decennially, the chief elected official of the municipality shall submit a letter to the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management and the Commissioners of Transportation, Environmental Protection and Economic and Community Development that explains why such plan was not amended. A copy of such letter shall be included in each application by the municipality for discretionary state funding submitted to any state agency.

      (3) Notwithstanding any provision of subdivisions (1) and (2) of this subsection, no commission shall be obligated to prepare or amend a plan of conservation and development for such municipality from July 1, 2010, to June 30, 2013, inclusive.

      (b) On and after the first day of July following the adoption of the state Conservation and Development Policies Plan 2013-2018, in accordance with section 16a-30, a municipality that fails to comply with the requirements of subdivisions (1) and (2) of subsection (a) of this section shall be ineligible for discretionary state funding unless such prohibition is expressly waived by the secretary, except that any municipality that does not prepare or amend a plan of conservation and development pursuant to subdivision (3) of subsection (a) of this section shall continue to be eligible for discretionary state funding unless such municipality fails to comply with the requirements of said subdivisions (1) and (2) on or after July 1, 2014.

      (c) In the preparation of such plan, the commission may appoint one or more special committees to develop and make recommendations for the plan. The membership of any special committee may include: Residents of the municipality and representatives of local boards dealing with zoning, inland wetlands, conservation, recreation, education, public works, finance, redevelopment, general government and other municipal functions. In performing its duties under this section, the commission or any special committee may accept information from any source or solicit input from any organization or individual. The commission or any special committee may hold public informational meetings or organize other activities to inform residents about the process of preparing the plan.

      (d) In preparing such plan, the commission or any special committee shall consider the following: (1) The community development action plan of the municipality, if any, (2) the need for affordable housing, (3) the need for protection of existing and potential public surface and ground drinking water supplies, (4) the use of cluster development and other development patterns to the extent consistent with soil types, terrain and infrastructure capacity within the municipality, (5) the state plan of conservation and development adopted pursuant to chapter 297, (6) the regional plan of conservation and development adopted pursuant to section 8-35a, (7) physical, social, economic and governmental conditions and trends, (8) the needs of the municipality including, but not limited to, human resources, education, health, housing, recreation, social services, public utilities, public protection, transportation and circulation and cultural and interpersonal communications, (9) the objectives of energy-efficient patterns of development, the use of solar and other renewable forms of energy and energy conservation, and (10) protection and preservation of agriculture.

      (e) (1) Such plan of conservation and development shall (A) be a statement of policies, goals and standards for the physical and economic development of the municipality, (B) provide for a system of principal thoroughfares, parkways, bridges, streets, sidewalks, multipurpose trails and other public ways as appropriate, (C) be designed to promote, with the greatest efficiency and economy, the coordinated development of the municipality and the general welfare and prosperity of its people and identify areas where it is feasible and prudent (i) to have compact, transit accessible, pedestrian-oriented mixed use development patterns and land reuse, and (ii) to promote such development patterns and land reuse, (D) recommend the most desirable use of land within the municipality for residential, recreational, commercial, industrial, conservation, agricultural and other purposes and include a map showing such proposed land uses, (E) recommend the most desirable density of population in the several parts of the municipality, (F) note any inconsistencies with the following growth management principles: (i) Redevelopment and revitalization of commercial centers and areas of mixed land uses with existing or planned physical infrastructure; (ii) expansion of housing opportunities and design choices to accommodate a variety of household types and needs; (iii) concentration of development around transportation nodes and along major transportation corridors to support the viability of transportation options and land reuse; (iv) conservation and restoration of the natural environment, cultural and historical resources and existing farmlands; (v) protection of environmental assets critical to public health and safety; and (vi) integration of planning across all levels of government to address issues on a local, regional and state-wide basis, (G) make provision for the development of housing opportunities, including opportunities for multifamily dwellings, consistent with soil types, terrain and infrastructure capacity, for all residents of the municipality and the planning region in which the municipality is located, as designated by the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management under section 16a-4a, (H) promote housing choice and economic diversity in housing, including housing for both low and moderate income households, and encourage the development of housing which will meet the housing needs identified in the state's consolidated plan for housing and community development prepared pursuant to section 8-37t and in the housing component and the other components of the state plan of conservation and development prepared pursuant to chapter 297. In preparing such plan the commission shall consider focusing development and revitalization in areas with existing or planned physical infrastructure.

      (2) For any municipality that is contiguous to Long Island Sound, such plan shall be (A) consistent with the municipal coastal program requirements of sections 22a-101 to 22a-104, inclusive, (B) made with reasonable consideration for restoration and protection of the ecosystem and habitat of Long Island Sound, and (C) designed to reduce hypoxia, pathogens, toxic contaminants and floatable debris in Long Island Sound.

      (f) Such plan may show the commission's and any special committee's recommendation for (1) conservation and preservation of traprock and other ridgelines, (2) airports, parks, playgrounds and other public grounds, (3) the general location, relocation and improvement of schools and other public buildings, (4) the general location and extent of public utilities and terminals, whether publicly or privately owned, for water, sewerage, light, power, transit and other purposes, (5) the extent and location of public housing projects, (6) programs for the implementation of the plan, including (A) a schedule, (B) a budget for public capital projects, (C) a program for enactment and enforcement of zoning and subdivision controls, building and housing codes and safety regulations, (D) plans for implementation of affordable housing, (E) plans for open space acquisition and greenways protection and development, and (F) plans for corridor management areas along limited access highways or rail lines, designated under section 16a-27, (7) proposed priority funding areas, and (8) any other recommendations as will, in the commission's or any special committee's judgment, be beneficial to the municipality. The plan may include any necessary and related maps, explanatory material, photographs, charts or other pertinent data and information relative to the past, present and future trends of the municipality.

      (g) (1) A plan of conservation and development or any part thereof or amendment thereto prepared by the commission or any special committee shall be reviewed, and may be amended, by the commission prior to scheduling at least one public hearing on adoption.

      (2) At least sixty-five days prior to the public hearing on adoption, the commission shall submit a copy of such plan or part thereof or amendment thereto for review and comment to the legislative body or, in the case of a municipality for which the legislative body of the municipality is a town meeting or representative town meeting, to the board of selectmen. The legislative body or board of selectmen, as the case may be, may hold one or more public hearings on the plan and shall endorse or reject such entire plan or part thereof or amendment and may submit comments and recommended changes to the commission. The commission may render a decision on the plan without the report of such body or board.

      (3) At least thirty-five days prior to the public hearing on adoption, the commission shall post the plan on the Internet web site of the municipality, if any.

      (4) At least sixty-five days prior to the public hearing on adoption, the commission shall submit a copy of such plan or part thereof or amendment thereto to the regional planning agency for review and comment. The regional planning agency shall submit an advisory report along with its comments to the commission at or before the hearing. Such comments shall include a finding on the consistency of the plan with (A) the regional plan of conservation and development, adopted under section 8-35a, (B) the state plan of conservation and development, adopted pursuant to chapter 297, and (C) the plans of conservation and development of other municipalities in the area of operation of the regional planning agency. The commission may render a decision on the plan without the report of the regional planning agency.

      (5) At least thirty-five days prior to the public hearing on adoption, the commission shall file in the office of the town clerk a copy of such plan or part thereof or amendment thereto but, in the case of a district commission, such commission shall file such information in the offices of both the district clerk and the town clerk.

      (6) The commission shall cause to be published in a newspaper having a general circulation in the municipality, at least twice at intervals of not less than two days, the first not more than fifteen days, or less than ten days, and the last not less than two days prior to the date of each such hearing, notice of the time and place of any such public hearing. Such notice shall make reference to the filing of such draft plan in the office of the town clerk, or both the district clerk and the town clerk, as the case may be.

      (h) (1) After completion of the public hearing, the commission may revise the plan and may adopt the plan or any part thereof or amendment thereto by a single resolution or may, by successive resolutions, adopt parts of the plan and amendments thereto.

      (2) Any plan, section of a plan or recommendation in the plan that is not endorsed in the report of the legislative body or, in the case of a municipality for which the legislative body is a town meeting or representative town meeting, by the board of selectmen, of the municipality may only be adopted by the commission by a vote of not less than two-thirds of all the members of the commission.

      (3) Upon adoption by the commission, any plan or part thereof or amendment thereto shall become effective at a time established by the commission, provided notice thereof shall be published in a newspaper having a general circulation in the municipality prior to such effective date.

      (4) Not more than thirty days after adoption, any plan or part thereof or amendment thereto shall be posted on the Internet web site of the municipality, if any, and shall be filed in the office of the town clerk, except that, if it is a district plan or amendment, it shall be filed in the offices of both the district and town clerks.

      (5) Not more than sixty days after adoption of the plan, the commission shall submit a copy of the plan to the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management and shall include with such copy a description of any inconsistency between the plan adopted by the commission and the state plan of conservation and development and the reasons therefor.

      (i) Any owner or tenant, or authorized agent of such owner or tenant, of real property or buildings thereon located in the municipality may submit a proposal to the commission requesting a change to the plan of conservation and development. Such proposal shall be submitted in writing and on a form prescribed by the commission. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of section 8-7d, the commission shall review and may approve, modify and approve or reject the proposal in accordance with the provisions of subsection (g) of this section.

      (1949 Rev., S. 856; 1959, P.A. 577, S. 6; 1969, P.A. 477, S. 1; 1971, P.A. 862, S. 5, 6; P.A. 78-314, S. 3; P.A. 80-327, S. 2; P.A. 85-279, S. 4; P.A. 88-13, S. 1, 3; P.A. 91-392, S. 2; 91-395, S. 3, 11; 91-398, S. 2, 7; P.A. 95-239, S. 3; 95-335, S. 9, 26; P.A. 99-117, S. 1, 2; P.A. 01-197, S. 1, 4; P.A. 03-19, S. 20; P.A. 05-205, S. 1; P.A. 06-17, S. 1; 06-24, S. 1; P.A. 07-239, S. 3; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-5, S. 4; P.A. 08-182, S. 16, 17; P.A. 09-230, S. 7; P.A. 10-138, S. 5; P.A. 11-124, S. 3; 11-188, S. 2.)

      History: 1959 act added provisions re districts; 1969 act substituted "shall" for "may" thereby requiring that recommendation for most desirable land uses and population density be included in development plan, but did leave optional the inclusion of other recommendations re streets, bridges etc. and further clarified contents of plan re economic development, schedules, budgets, various codes and regulations and community needed and deleted requirement that report be filed annually; 1971 act changed public hearing notice requirements from publication at least seven days before hearing to publication "twice at intervals of not less than two days, the first not more than fifteen days nor less than ten days, and the last not less than two days" before hearing; P.A. 78-314 allowed consideration of energy-efficient development, renewable forms of energy and energy conservation in development plan; P.A. 80-327 allowed consideration of water supplies and their protection in development plan; P.A. 85-279 made consideration of surface and ground drinking water supplies in preparation of the plan mandatory rather than discretionary; P.A. 88-13 allowed consideration of affordable housing and open space acquisition in the plan of development and required that the plan of development be reviewed and updated at least once every 10 years; P.A. 91-392 added provisions re development of housing opportunities and promotion of housing choice and economic diversity in housing; P.A. 91-395 designated existing provisions as Subsec. (a) and amended them to require that municipal plans take into account the state plan and that plans adopted under this section be reviewed for consistency with the state plan of development and added Subsec. (b) requiring municipalities to consider use of cluster development; P.A. 91-398 added provision re plans in municipalities contiguous to Long Island Sound; P.A. 95-239 amended Subsec. (a) to provide that the plan may make regulations re traprock ridgelines; P.A. 95-335 amended Subsec. (a) to change the name of the plan of development to the plan of conservation and development and authorized the plan to include provisions re greenways protection and development, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 99-117 divided existing Subsec. (a) into (a) and (b), redesignating existing Subsec. (b) as (c), and amended Subsec. (b) by adding provision regarding explanation of failure to conduct review of the plan, effective January 1, 2000; P.A. 01-197 deleted former provisions and inserted new Subsecs. (a) to (h) which reorganized former provisions and authorized planning commissions to appoint special committees and to submit the plan to the legislative body of the town, broadened the scope of the plan to include cluster development, traprock and other ridgelines and neighborhood and district plans and made technical changes to form and content, effective July 1, 2001, and applicable to municipal plans of conservation and development adopted after that date; P.A. 03-19 made a technical change in Subsecs. (f) and (g), effective May 12, 2003; P.A. 05-205 amended Subsec. (c) to add Subdiv. (10) re protection and preservation of agriculture, amended Subsec. (d)(1) to redesignate subparagraphs and require the commission to consider focusing development and revitalization in areas with infrastructure, adding new Subpara. (B) re system of principal thoroughfares, revising new Subpara. (C) to add provisions re identification and promotion of areas of mixed use development patterns and land reuse, and revising new Subpara. (F) re growth management principles, amended Subsec. (e) to eliminate provisions re principal thoroughfares consistent with changes in Subsec. (d), revising Subdiv. (3) to add recommendations for schools and adding new Subdiv. (6)(F) re corridor management areas and new Subdiv. (7) re priority funding areas, amended Subsec. (f) to require posting of plan on Internet web site of the municipality, change the number of days the regional planning agency has for review from 65 to 35, require the regional planning agency to make specific findings and add provisions re revision of the plan and submission to the legislative body, amended Subsec. (g) to add provisions re Internet posting and notice to the Office of Policy and Management, replaced former Subsec. (h) re hearings and endorsement with new Subsec. (h) authorizing an owner or tenant to request changes to the plan and made technical changes throughout the section, effective July 1, 2005 (Revisor's note: In Subsec. (d)(1)(C)(ii), the words "land and reuse" were changed editorially by the Revisors to "and land reuse" for consistency); P.A. 06-17 amended Subsec. (f) by revising provisions re submission to the legislative body or board of selectmen and organizing subsection into subdivisions, amended Subsec. (g) by adding requirement that a plan of conservation and development not endorsed by the legislative body or board of selectmen be approved by a two-thirds majority of the commission, making conforming changes and organizing subsection into subdivisions and amended Subsec. (h) by making conforming changes, effective October 1, 2006, and applicable to plans of conservation and development adopted after that date; P.A. 06-24 amended Subsec. (g) by replacing requirement that the commission notify the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management of inconsistencies of the municipal plan with the state plan with requirement that the commission submit to the secretary a copy of the plan and a description of any such inconsistencies not more than 60 days after adoption of the plan; P.A. 07-239 divided existing Subsec. (a) into Subsecs. (a) and (b), added provisions re discretionary funding therein, deleted provision re application for funding for conservation or development submitted to secretary or commissioners in said Subsec. (b) and redesignated existing Subsecs. (b) to (h) as Subsecs. (c) to (i), effective July 1, 2010; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-5 amended Subsec. (a)(2) to insert "state" re discretionary funding, effective July 1, 2010; P.A. 08-182 amended Subsecs. (c)(6) and (f)(4)(A) to change "regional plan of development" to "regional plan of conservation and development" and, effective July 1, 2010, amended Subsecs. (d)(6) and (g)(4)(A) to change "regional plan of development" to "regional plan of conservation and development"; P.A. 09-230 amended Subsec. (b) to delete provision re plan amendment and provide that municipality shall be ineligible for discretionary state funding for failure to comply with Subsec. (a) following adoption of state plan, effective July 1, 2010; P.A. 10-138 added Subsec. (a)(3) providing that no commission shall be obligated to prepare a plan from July 1, 2010, to June 30, 2013, and amended Subsec. (b) to make technical changes and provide that municipalities that do not prepare a plan pursuant to Subsec. (a)(3) shall continue to be eligible for discretionary state funding unless such municipalities fail to comply with Subsec. (a)(1) and (2) on or after July 1, 2014, effective July 1, 2010; P.A. 11-124 amended Subsec. (e)(1)(H) by replacing "housing plan" with "state's consolidated plan for housing and community development"; P.A. 11-188 amended Subsec. (e)(1)(D) by adding ", agricultural" re use of land.

      Sec. 8-25. Subdivision of land. (a) No subdivision of land shall be made until a plan for such subdivision has been approved by the commission. Any person, firm or corporation making any subdivision of land without the approval of the commission shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars for each lot sold or offered for sale or so subdivided. Any plan for subdivision shall, upon approval, or when taken as approved by reason of the failure of the commission to act, be filed or recorded by the applicant in the office of the town clerk not later than ninety days after the expiration of the appeal period under section 8-8, or in the case of an appeal, not later than ninety days after the termination of such appeal by dismissal, withdrawal or judgment in favor of the applicant but, if it is a plan for subdivision wholly or partially within a district, it shall be filed in the offices of both the district clerk and the town clerk, and any plan not so filed or recorded within the prescribed time shall become null and void, except that the commission may extend the time for such filing for two additional periods of ninety days and the plan shall remain valid until the expiration of such extended time. All such plans shall be delivered to the applicant for filing or recording not more than thirty days after the time for taking an appeal from the action of the commission has elapsed or not more than thirty days after the date that plans modified in accordance with the commission's approval and that comply with section 7-31 are delivered to the commission, whichever is later, and in the event of an appeal, not more than thirty days after the termination of such appeal by dismissal, withdrawal or judgment in favor of the applicant or not more than thirty days after the date that plans modified in accordance with the commission's approval and that comply with section 7-31 are delivered to the commission, whichever is later. No such plan shall be recorded or filed by the town clerk or district clerk or other officer authorized to record or file plans until its approval has been endorsed thereon by the chairman or secretary of the commission, and the filing or recording of a subdivision plan without such approval shall be void. Before exercising the powers granted in this section, the commission shall adopt regulations covering the subdivision of land. No such regulations shall become effective until after a public hearing held in accordance with the provisions of section 8-7d. Such regulations shall provide that the land to be subdivided shall be of such character that it can be used for building purposes without danger to health or the public safety, that proper provision shall be made for water, sewerage and drainage, including the upgrading of any downstream ditch, culvert or other drainage structure which, through the introduction of additional drainage due to such subdivision, becomes undersized and creates the potential for flooding on a state highway, and, in areas contiguous to brooks, rivers or other bodies of water subject to flooding, including tidal flooding, that proper provision shall be made for protective flood control measures and that the proposed streets are in harmony with existing or proposed principal thoroughfares shown in the plan of conservation and development as described in section 8-23, especially in regard to safe intersections with such thoroughfares, and so arranged and of such width, as to provide an adequate and convenient system for present and prospective traffic needs. Such regulations shall also provide that the commission may require the provision of open spaces, parks and playgrounds when, and in places, deemed proper by the planning commission, which open spaces, parks and playgrounds shall be shown on the subdivision plan. Such regulations may, with the approval of the commission, authorize the applicant to pay a fee to the municipality or pay a fee to the municipality and transfer land to the municipality in lieu of any requirement to provide open spaces. Such payment or combination of payment and the fair market value of land transferred shall be equal to not more than ten per cent of the fair market value of the land to be subdivided prior to the approval of the subdivision. The fair market value shall be determined by an appraiser jointly selected by the commission and the applicant. A fraction of such payment the numerator of which is one and the denominator of which is the number of approved parcels in the subdivision shall be made at the time of the sale of each approved parcel of land in the subdivision and placed in a fund in accordance with the provisions of section 8-25b. The open space requirements of this section shall not apply if the transfer of all land in a subdivision of less than five parcels is to a parent, child, brother, sister, grandparent, grandchild, aunt, uncle or first cousin for no consideration, or if the subdivision is to contain affordable housing, as defined in section 8-39a, equal to twenty per cent or more of the total housing to be constructed in such subdivision. Such regulations, on and after July 1, 1985, shall provide that proper provision be made for soil erosion and sediment control pursuant to section 22a-329. Such regulations shall not impose conditions and requirements on manufactured homes having as their narrowest dimension twenty-two feet or more and built in accordance with federal manufactured home construction and safety standards or on lots containing such manufactured homes which are substantially different from conditions and requirements imposed on single-family dwellings and lots containing single-family dwellings. Such regulations shall not impose conditions and requirements on developments to be occupied by manufactured homes having as their narrowest dimension twenty-two feet or more and built in accordance with federal manufactured home construction and safety standards which are substantially different from conditions and requirements imposed on multifamily dwellings, lots containing multifamily dwellings, cluster developments or planned unit developments. The commission may also prescribe the extent to which and the manner in which streets shall be graded and improved and public utilities and services provided and, in lieu of the completion of such work and installations previous to the final approval of a plan, the commission may accept a bond in an amount and with surety and conditions satisfactory to it securing to the municipality the actual construction, maintenance and installation of such public improvements and utilities within a period specified in the bond. Such regulations may provide, in lieu of the completion of the work and installations above referred to, previous to the final approval of a plan, for an assessment or other method whereby the municipality is put in an assured position to do such work and make such installations at the expense of the owners of the property within the subdivision. Such regulations may provide that in lieu of either the completion of the work or the furnishing of a bond or other surety as provided in this section, the commission may authorize the filing of a plan with a conditional approval endorsed thereon. Such approval shall be conditioned on (1) the actual construction, maintenance and installation of any improvements or utilities prescribed by the commission, or (2) the provision of a bond or other surety as provided in this section. Upon the occurrence of either of such events, the commission shall cause a final approval to be endorsed thereon in the manner provided by this section. Any such conditional approval shall lapse five years from the date it is granted, provided the applicant may apply for and the commission may, in its discretion, grant a renewal of such conditional approval for an additional period of five years at the end of any five-year period, except that the commission may, by regulation, provide for a shorter period of conditional approval or renewal of such approval. Any person who enters into a contract for the purchase of any lot subdivided pursuant to a conditional approval may rescind such contract by delivering a written notice of rescission to the seller not later than three days after receipt of written notice of final approval if such final approval has additional amendments or any conditions that were not included in the conditional approval and are unacceptable to the buyer. Any person, firm or corporation who, prior to such final approval, transfers title to any lot subdivided pursuant to a conditional approval shall be fined not more than one thousand dollars for each lot transferred. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to authorize the marketing of any lot prior to the granting of conditional approval or renewal of such conditional approval.

      (b) The regulations adopted under subsection (a) of this section shall also encourage energy-efficient patterns of development and land use, the use of solar and other renewable forms of energy, and energy conservation. The regulations shall require any person submitting a plan for a subdivision to the commission under subsection (a) of this section to demonstrate to the commission that such person has considered, in developing the plan, using passive solar energy techniques which would not significantly increase the cost of the housing to the buyer, after tax credits, subsidies and exemptions. As used in this subsection and section 8-2, "passive solar energy techniques" means site design techniques which maximize solar heat gain, minimize heat loss and provide thermal storage within a building during the heating season and minimize heat gain and provide for natural ventilation during the cooling season. The site design techniques shall include, but not be limited to: (1) House orientation; (2) street and lot layout; (3) vegetation; (4) natural and man-made topographical features; and (5) protection of solar access within the development.

      (c) The regulations adopted under subsection (a) of this section, may, to the extent consistent with soil types, terrain, infrastructure capacity and the plan of development for the community, provide for cluster development, and may provide for incentives for cluster development such as density bonuses, or may require cluster development.

      (d) (1) To satisfy any bond or surety requirement in this section, the commission shall accept surety bonds, cash bonds, passbook or statement savings accounts and other surety including, but not limited to, letters of credit, provided such bond or surety is in a form acceptable to the commission and the financial institution or other entity issuing any letter of credit is acceptable to the commission. Such bond or surety may, at the discretion of the person posting such bond or surety, be posted at any time before all public improvements and utilities are constructed and installed, except that the commission may require a bond or surety for erosion control prior to the commencement of any such construction or installation. No lot shall be transferred to a buyer before any required bond or surety is posted. For any subdivision that is approved for development in phases, the surety provisions of this section shall apply as if each phase was approved as a separate subdivision. Notwithstanding the provisions of any special act, municipal charter or ordinance, no commission shall require a bond or surety to securitize the maintenance of roads, streets or other improvements associated with such subdivision for maintenance occurring after such improvements have been accepted by the municipality.

      (2) If the person posting a bond or surety under this section requests a release of all or a portion of such bond or surety, the commission shall, not later than sixty-five days after receiving such request, (A) release any such bond or surety or portion thereof, provided the commission or its agent is reasonably satisfied that the modifications for which such bond or surety or portion thereof was posted have been completed, or (B) provide the person posting such bond or surety with a written explanation as to the additional modifications that must be completed before such bond or surety or portion thereof may be released.

      (1949 Rev., S. 858; November, 1955, S. N12; 1959, P.A. 577, S. 7; 669; 1971, P.A. 196; 862, S. 8; P.A. 75-131; P.A. 77-545, S. 2; P.A. 78-104, S. 5; 78-314, S. 4; P.A. 79-301; P.A. 81-254; 81-334, S. 1; P.A. 83-388, S. 8, 9; P.A. 85-91, S. 4, 5; P.A. 88-203, S. 2; 88-263; P.A. 90-239, S. 1; P.A. 91-395, S. 4, 11; P.A. 93-29; P.A. 95-335, S. 15, 26; P.A. 99-131; P.A. 01-52; P.A. 03-177, S. 6; P.A. 07-182, S. 1; P.A. 11-79, S. 2.)

      History: 1959 acts added provision for filing of subdivision plans in case of a district and added provision regulations authorize commission to provide open spaces for parks and playgrounds; 1971 acts added provisions concerning extensions for filing subdivision plans, specified that applicant must do filing and that endorsement of approval must be made by chairman or secretary and changed notice requirement from publication at least seven days before hearing to publication "twice, at intervals of not less than two days, the first not more than fifteen days nor less than ten days and the last not less than two days" before hearing; P.A. 75-131 required that plans be delivered to applicant promptly for filing purposes after appeal deadline passed or after appeal terminated; P.A. 77-545 added provision that regulations made govern sedimentation and erosion control; P.A. 78-104 included "maintenance" of improvements and utilities in bond provision; P.A. 78-314 allowed encouragement of energy-efficient development, use of renewable forms of energy and energy conservation through regulations; P.A. 79-301 increased fine for making unapproved subdivision from $200 to $500; P.A. 81-254 allowed for conditional approval of plans; P.A. 81-334 moved provisions re regulations to encourage energy-efficient patterns of development, use of solar and other renewable forms of energy and energy conservation into new Subsec. (b) and outlined content of regulations; P.A. 83-388 amended Subsec. (a) to require that provision be made for soil erosion and sediment control, effective July 1, 1985; P.A. 85-91 amended Subsec. (a) to specify the date by which time provision for soil erosion and sediment control is required; P.A. 88-203 added provisions in Subsec. (a) re imposition of conditions and requirements on certain manufactured homes and developments to be occupied by certain manufactured homes; P.A. 88-263 substituted "shall" for "may" in Subsec. (b) to require that subdivision regulations encourage energy-efficient patterns of development and land use, the use of solar and other renewable forms of energy and energy conservation; P.A. 90-239 amended Subsec. (a) to allow the payment of a fee in lieu of the provision of open spaces and to exempt transfers of land to certain relatives from the open spaces requirements; P.A. 91-395 added Subsec. (c) concerning authorization for cluster development in regulations adopted under this section; P.A. 93-29 amended Subsec. (a) to change the time planning commissions have to deliver approved plans to subdivision applicants from "promptly" after the expiration of an appeal or termination in the applicant's favor to 30 days after either event and to change the date for filing of approved plans by a developer from 90 days after the time for appeal to 90 days after termination in the applicant's favor; P.A. 95-335 amended Subsec. (a) to change "plan of development" to "plan of conservation and development", effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 99-131 amended Subsec. (a) by requiring regulations covering the subdivision of land to include a provision for the "upgrading of any downstream ditch, culvert or other drainage structure which, through the introduction of additional drainage due to such subdivision, becomes undersized and creates the potential for flooding on a state highway"; P.A. 01-52 amended Subsec. (a) to change the time for delivery of approved subdivision plans from not less than 30 days to not more than 30 days and add provisions re modified plans and amended Subsec. (b) to make a technical change for purposes of gender neutrality; P.A. 03-177 replaced provisions in Subsec. (a) re publication of notice of time, place and purpose of public hearing with requirement that the public hearing be held in accordance with Sec. 8-7d, effective October 1, 2003, and applicable to applications filed on or after that date; P.A. 07-182 amended Subsec. (a) to allow a person who enters into a contract to purchase a subdivided lot pursuant to conditional approval to rescind such contract if such final approval has additional amendments or any conditions not included in the conditional approval that are unacceptable to the buyer, to provide that a fine of $1,000 be imposed on any person who, before final approval, transfers title to any lot subdivided pursuant to conditional approval for each lot transferred, deleting prior fine of $500 imposed on any person who sells or offers for sale any such lot, to require that nothing in subsection be construed to authorize the marketing of any lot before granting or renewal of conditional approval, and to make technical changes, effective July 1, 2007; P.A. 11-79 amended Subsec. (a) by adding "or other surety" re conditional approval and adding "public" re improvements secured by bond, and added Subsec. (d) re bond and surety requirements and release of same.

      Sec. 8-26c. Subdivision to be completed within five years of plan approval. Exceptions. (a) Any person, firm or corporation making any subdivision of land, except as provided in section 8-26g, shall complete all work in connection with such subdivision within five years after the approval of the plan for such subdivision; the commission's endorsement of approval on the plan shall state the date on which such five-year period expires.

      (b) The subdivider or his successor in interest may apply for and the commission may grant one or more extensions of the time to complete all or part of the work in connection with such subdivision, provided the time for all extensions under this subsection shall not exceed ten years from the date the subdivision was approved. If the commission grants an extension of an approval, the commission may condition the approval on a determination of the adequacy of the amount of the bond or other surety furnished under section 8-25, securing to the municipality the actual completion of the work.

      (c) In the case of a subdivision plan approved on or after October 1, 1977, failure to complete all work within such five-year period or any extension thereof shall result in automatic expiration of the approval of such plan provided the commission shall file on the land records of the town in which such subdivision is located notice of such expiration and shall state such expiration on the subdivision plan on file in the office of the town clerk of such town, and no additional lots in the subdivision shall be conveyed by the subdivider or his successor in interest as such subdivider except with approval by the commission of a new application for subdivision of the subject land. If lots have been conveyed during such five-year period or any extension thereof, the municipality shall call the bond or other surety on said subdivision to the extent necessary to complete the bonded improvements and utilities required to serve those lots. "Work" for purposes of this section means all physical improvements required by the approved plan, other than the staking out of lots, and includes but is not limited to the construction of roads, storm drainage facilities and water and sewer lines, the setting aside of open space and recreation areas, installation of telephone and electric services, planting of trees or other landscaping, and installation of retaining walls or other structures.

      (d) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, any subdivision approval made under this section on or before October 1, 1991, shall expire not more than seven years from the date of such approval and the commission may grant one or more extensions of time to complete all or part of the work in connection with such subdivision, provided the time for all extensions under this subsection shall not exceed ten years from the date the subdivision was approved. If the subdivider or his successor in interest submits evidence to the commission that completion of the project was delayed because of a state or federal construction project, the approval shall expire not more than ten years from the date of such approval and the commission may grant one or more extensions of time to complete all or part of the work in connection with such subdivision, provided the time for all extensions shall not exceed fifteen years from the date the subdivision was approved. If the subdivider or his successor in interest prevails in an appeal of a decision of the commission on the subdivision under section 8-8, the time to complete the subdivision shall be tolled for the time of such appeal and until the commission implements the judicial decision.

      (e) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, any subdivision approval made under this section prior to July 1, 2011, that has not expired prior to May 9, 2011, shall expire not less than nine years after the date of such approval and the commission may grant one or more extensions of time to complete all or part of the work in connection with such subdivision, provided no subdivision approval, including all extensions, shall be valid for more than fourteen years from the date the subdivision was approved.

      (1967, P.A. 677, S. 2; P.A. 77-545, S. 4; P.A. 78-104, S. 6; P.A. 87-371, S. 3, 5; P.A. 91-153, S. 2; P.A. 93-19, S. 2, 3; May 25 Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-1, S. 11, 130; P.A. 95-322; P.A. 98-188, S. 1, 5; P.A. 09-181, S. 2; P.A. 11-5, S. 2.)

      History: P.A. 77-545 required that endorsement state date on which five-year period expires and added Subsec. (b) re subdivision plans approved on or after October 1, 1977; P.A. 78-104 reworded ban on conveyance of lots after approval expires and substituted "bonded improvements and utilities" for "work"; P.A. 87-371 inserted reference to Sec. 8-26g; P.A. 91-153 added Subsec. (c) which provided that site plans approved on or before October 1, 1989, be valid for seven years after the date of such approval; P.A. 93-19 inserted new Subsec. (b) re extensions of time to complete work on a subdivision, relettered former Subsecs. (b) and (c) accordingly and amended newly relettered Subsec. (d) to authorize extensions of time to complete subdivisions approved on or before October 1, 1989, effective April 21, 1993; May 25 Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-1 amended Subsec. (c) by making technical change, adding reference to extensions of subdivision plans, effective July 1, 1994; P.A. 95-322 amended Subsec. (d) to make seven-year expiration limit applicable to approvals made on or before October 1, 1991, rather than October 1, 1989, and to add provision re extension of time in the case of a project delayed because of state or federal construction project; P.A. 98-188 amended Subsec. (d) by adding provision re tolling of time for completion when there is an appeal of a decision by the commission, effective June 4, 1998; P.A. 09-181 added Subsec. (e) re subdivision approvals made during period from July 1, 2006, to July 1, 2009, effective July 2, 2009; P.A. 11-5 amended Subsec. (e) to apply to subdivision approvals made prior to July 1, 2011, that have not expired prior to May 9, 2011, and to provide that approvals shall expire not less than 9 years after approval date and that no approval shall be valid for more than 14 years, effective May 9, 2011.

      Sec. 8-26g. Subdivision projects consisting of four hundred or more dwelling units to be completed within ten years of approval of plan. Exceptions. (a) Any person, firm or corporation making a subdivision of land for a project consisting of four hundred or more dwelling units shall complete all work in connection with such subdivision within ten years after the approval of the plan for such subdivision; the commission's endorsement of approval on the plan shall state the date on which such ten-year period expires.

      (b) In the case of a subdivision plan approved on or after June 19, 1987, failure to complete all work within such ten-year period shall result in automatic expiration of the approval of such plan provided the commission shall file on the land records of the town in which such subdivision is located notice of such expiration and shall state such expiration on the subdivision plan on file in the office of the town clerk of such town, and no additional lots in the subdivision shall be conveyed by the subdivider or his successor in interest as such subdivider except with approval by the commission of a new application for subdivision of the subject land. If lots have been conveyed during such ten-year period, the municipality shall call the bond or other surety on said subdivision to the extent necessary to complete the bonded improvements and utilities required to serve those lots. "Work" for purposes of this section means all physical improvements required by the approved plan, other than the staking out of lots, and includes but is not limited to the construction of roads, storm drainage facilities and water and sewer lines, the setting aside of open space and recreation areas, installation of telephone and electric services, planting of trees or other landscaping, and installation of retaining walls or other structures.

      (c) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, for any subdivision of land for a project consisting of four hundred or more dwelling units and approved prior to July 1, 2011, that has not expired prior to May 9, 2011, any person, firm or corporation making such subdivision shall complete all work in connection with such subdivision not later than the date fourteen years after the date of approval of the plan for such subdivision. The commission's endorsement of approval on the plan shall state the date on which such fourteen-year period expires.

      (P.A. 87-371, S. 4, 5; P.A. 09-181, S. 4; P.A. 11-5, S. 3.)

      History: P.A. 09-181 added Subsec. (c) re approvals made during period from July 1, 2006, to July 1, 2009, effective July 2, 2009; P.A. 11-5 amended Subsec. (c) to replace former provisions with provisions applying to subdivision approvals made prior to July 1, 2011, that have not expired prior to May 9, 2011, and providing that work on subdivision shall be completed not more than 14 years after approval date, and requiring commission's endorsement of approval to state the date on which such 14-year period expires, effective May 9, 2011.